Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-06-02
RULES FOR BUILDING.

next spring, tho following rules from
the Country Gentleman. are furnished
by way OF suggestion. and some Of them
may afford valuable hints even to those
vino may have already given the subject
considerable study. for them to digest
during the leisure of winter.
/ Never build in a hurry-take time
to mature plans and to season timber.
2. Get plans well matured, so as to
prevent costly alterations; and if nee
cessary, secure The assistance of good
common sense, professional architect
$. Choose Il good spot for the house
healthy, dry, with good drainage-and,
il possible, with a good prospect land
scape and trees. Surface water should
run off in every direction.
4. Secure provision for pure water
il not by wells and springs, then with
filtered rain-water. Many lose their
lives by using impure water.
5. Other things being equal, the house
should face the south, on several ac-
counts.
6. Place the house where it will be
most accessible from all parts of the
farm, as nearly as maybe. for the con-
venience of the owner and his men in
their constant labors.
Z. In planning the house consult
mainly the lady who is to live and rule
there, and who should have the first
voice in all arrangements.
s. In erecting tie building, expect to
pay for what you get; hire honest and
skilful builders, and pay them fair
wages, and not beat them down and
tempt to slight the work.
8. Beginning at the basement or eel
lar. let it be we'll lighted, with double
glazed windows-and always kept dry
and clean, so as never to need cleaning.
10. Let the cellar extend under the
whole house, for preserving the timber
from rotting, and atfording the room.
IL. For country houses, wood is usual
ly best and cheapest. Stone walls are
cold and damp, unless well furred,
lathed and plastered. All brick walls
should have air spaces. In building
with wood, adopt balloon frames with
air spaces between outside and interior
plastering, with the additional security
of using building paper or brick inside,
and use plenty of nails, as they are the
cheapest strengtheners.
II. If the cellar has not perfect nat
ural drainage. lay a tile outside all
around the wall. foot and half be-
low The wall, with free discharge; and
cross drains into it TO keep the cellar
free from dampness.
IL. In arranging the rooms, first
make list of all the rooms wanted,
and then place them on paper in the
best iuXtaposition.
IA. The pantry should be between the
kitchen and dining room, OF easily ac-
cessible to both.
Is. The living room should have
pleasant views outside-lawn, trees,
flower garden, or distant landscape.
16 Stairways should always be well
lighted-no dark corners and occasions
for stumbling. Easy stairs are made
with 1-2 inch risers and 10 inch tread.
II. Few spacious windows are better
than many contracted ones.
18, Avoid hanging doors to swing
outside On stair landings, and never
place them so as to strike each other
when opened.
10. Bed rooms should be large enough
to avoid placing the bed against win
dow or closet door.
20. Plenty of closets should be provid
ed, and hang the closet door so that the
closet may receive light from the near,
est window.
21. Adjoining the kitchen, dining OF
living room. should be small room ac
cessible from outside, for workingmer
10 leave muddy boots and overcoats,
and to wash their hands.
% In the country avoid basemcn
kitchens, and place kitchen, living
;. room, and common bed rooms all OF
one floor, for ready access. On narrow
! and costly city lots, one may be over TIL
other.
%. To deaden the floor between tn
, cellar and room above, nail foorlEg OF
, the lower sides of the joists, pla2e Of
this two or three inches of concrete ant
: then lay the floor. This will exclude
) sounds, prevent rising exhalations iron
fruit room or cellar, and prove addi
tional security against fire.
"a. Kitchen windows, being in con
! stant use. should be hung on weights
,, and they should always be on opposit
| sides, 10 give full light and free ventila
ton.
25. In building. avoid ornamental
t follies in exteriors-such as mansar
8 roofs, tawdry Gothic gables, Quee
8 Anne distortions, ETC., and apply tn
I cost to interior conveniences. But adoI
b neatness and symmetry.
I 26. A square OF rectangular hous
1 gives the most room for the sam
!. amount of outside walls; but some ex
= ception must be made in order to oh
! tam light and side-ventilation.
: 27. Avoid receding angles in roofs, q
n'uch as possible, as they are q frequer
/. cause of leakage.
. 2S. Easily accessible verandas ma
be made with high ceilings, to prever
Q darkening windows.
a 20. A high ceiling to rooms poorl
T ventilated. is not SO good as one
= moderate height, but well ventilated.
1 30. Window seats are always plea
+ ant addition to rooms.
Q Warm-air furnaces (not hot-air
. should have tubes and registers lare
enough to give all the warmth required
! ! without any burned air.
= A neat, well kept garrett may be use
as children's play house and furnisl
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